My THEME for the A to Z challenge 2017 is an ongoing speculative fiction story featuring telepathy.

Memento

I write the essay question at the top of the page. What are the top five skills you want to have and why?

If I knew for sure that no one would read this, what would write? That I want the mind power of persuasion, for one. I could convince the HSMTF, if they came, that I’m not someone they seek. And I’d like the power to read a memento. Right now, I can only see memories while people are thinking them. But some of my kind can hold certain objects and know who associates what memories with those items. Another reason that I think my people should be welcome with open arms because skills like that would be so useful in solving crimes. And I’d like the dream powers my grandmother had.

This is getting me nowhere. I have to write about skills that a normal ninth grader would want. Digging in my bag, I pull out my hand sanitizer. The smell of strawberry scones masking germ-killing alcohol fills the air. For some reason, I find it easier to think when my hands are clean.

I want the skill of making friends. Is that a skill? I can probably spend a paragraph justifying it as one. I want the skill of a good sketch artist. My doodles are shameful. There’s one guy, Manny, who did a sketch on his locker. It looks like a monster ripped the locker open and is eating his homework. When you look right at it, the sketch looks so real. The janitor didn’t even clean it off, it’s that good.

I drum my fingers on the table. What other skills do I want to learn, or at least can make seem plausible for this essay? Coding. Yeah, everyone knows who the best hackers and coders are in school. I can probably connect that to the paragraph on making friends.

Okay. Two more skills. I wonder if household skills would count? I mean, my dad knows how to make the water heater work again when it stops. Mom knows how to fix the garbage disposal. I’m going to use this one because I can think of a lot of examples of stuff they just seem to know how to do that I have no idea where they learned the knowledge. It’s probably all YouTube. But I only have twenty minutes left if I want to get this essay done before my next class.

Last one. I wish I could drive. That’s a skill I can’t legally have until I’m of age, but it is a skill and one I really want. I finish and turn in the essay with two minutes to spare. The librarian reads it over.

“Do you feel this is a fair trade for the two dollar fine you owe?”

“Yes,” I try not to make my reply sound like a question, but I don’t know what answer is right.

“I agree. Here’s your book. Please return it on time or get it renewed before it’s late.”

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J Lenni Dorner

Author of the Existence speculative fiction book series.Fractions of Existence, book 1, is on Amazon. (Free on KU)
Reference books Preparing to Write Settings that Feel Like Characters is on Amazon and Smashwords andWriting Book Reviews As An Author: Inspiration To Make It Easier is on Amazon and Smashwords.

What do I wish I knew for certain? I don’t know that I like having concrete answers to large meaningful questions. Thinking you know those things might make it harder to ask questions and accept that you don’t know. It’s a gift not to know. Does that make sense or did it just come out weird?

I really liked the hand sanitizer part of your story. It was a good way to bring me in closer to the character.Andy has this post to share Moving On After Divorce

Nothing. I love that life is full of mystery. I don’t need answers for all my questions, but it doesn’t stop me asking. As for skills…if I die without being able to crack an egg properly, I’ll be disappointed. I’ve been practicing for decades, but I still can’t do it.D.A.Cairns has this post to share M is for Mortal Soul

I wish I knew for certain that I’m not Racer X… The way people freak out when I’m driving is really confusing – I do stick to the speed limit 😉 Happy A-to-Z-ing.Ronel Janse van Vuuren has this post to share Murder Most Foul #AtoZChallengeFind on Twitter: miladyronel

I wouldn’t mind knowing how not to have two left feet. And answers to questions of the past – when exactly was Alex library burnt and by who? Did Mary Queen of Scots have her husband murdered? Things like that. What happens in the future – I’d really rather not know, not much fun to know every last detail and/or stressful.

That would be a great skill – to know things by picking up an object! But I can see it being a hindrance if you couldn’t turn it off, although she seems to be in control of her powers pretty well so maybe she’d cope just fine. 🙂

Fixing all kinds of stuff is a super skill to have, so is making friends. My son is pretty great at the latter, not at the first one, though. Guess what, his friends fix things for him!Find on Twitter: GerberStutz

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Lenni-Lenape

We call ourselves Lenni-Lenape which translates to mean “Original People.”
European settlers called the Lenape people “Delaware Indians,” as part of the property named for Thomas West, 3rd and 12th Baron De La Warr ( Lord De La Warr).

Blog of Author J Lenni Dorner

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